Contents In This Issue GUEST ARTICLE: What's Your Wisdom Telling You? by Nancy Gerber COACHING CALL TO ACTION COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ABOUT ANDREA NOVAKOWSKI PASS IT ON

GUEST ARTICLE:
What's Your Wisdom Telling You?
by Nancy Gerber

I've always sought to learn from those with more experience or deeper knowledge than I possess. These mentors and coaches in my life have been most helpful, and I'm grateful for their input.

I'm finally realizing how to best use all this information for my development. The most important lesson: it's essential to be myself. Whenever I hear a successful person share their ideas or process, I resist the tendency to immediately adopt that behavior. Instead, I notice my "gut" reaction. Am I hesitating or resonating? This is very much an intuitive, visceral experience -- and it happens in a flash. I KNOW right away. What took me longer was NOTICING and TRUSTING these instinctive responses.

Does the idea I'm considering make all my cells tingle and vibrate -- does it energize me and stir up a resounding "yes!" from deep within? Or, do I react with negativity, discomfort, inexplicable uneasiness? Does the thought of adopting this action or attitude make me feel sluggish, de-motivated, heavier? Or am I energized by and about the possibilities? These responses are clues about how these ideas line up with my core beliefs and values. When I try to implement strategies that are out of synch with these core values, it's always a confusing and frustrating struggle to get comfortable and get on with it. Adopting ideas and behaviors that FIT who I am just seems to flow.

I have come to view this universe of information and ideas as a giant buffet table. Although all the items look tempting, selecting the best menu for myself requires thoughtfulness coupled with self knowledge. If I'm allergic to milk products, and always get a stomach ache when I eat them, it makes no sense to try another sample. Some items are so delicious and satisfying that I'll choose them every day. Others are rather more exotic, and I'll enjoy a taste every now and then. A few are somewhat bland, although nourishing, and I incorporate them into my diet because I know they will do me good.

Those who achieve success are invariably the ones that break the generally accepted rules and develop new parameters and methods of their own. They've learned to honor and trust their intuition and instincts. It makes more sense for us to use their lives and work as motivation and inspiration, rather than a road map.

How can you help yourself pay more attention to the things YOU already know?

Copyright 2004 by Nancy Birmbaum-Gerber. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Nancy Gerber, Professional Certified Coach and President of Stepping Stones can be reached at www.sstones.com.

	COACHING CALL TO ACTION
I love Nancy's viewpoint of information and ideas as a giant buffet table. (Appreciating eating as much as I do, this is a perfect analogy.) This week I ask you to join with me in considering those ideas as part of the buffet. 1. How many courses do you really need? 2. How many magazines do you really need to subscribe to (for the most part filled with information you already know)? 3. What amount of "eating of ideas" is required to nourish you? 4. When do you need to push away from the table? See what really resonates for you and has you humming.

	COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
October 2, 2004 Rodman Ride for Kids a Success Thank you all for supporting me on the Ride for Kids this year to benefit children at risk in Massachusetts. This year we raised in excess of $3.2 million. Your generosity was very much appreciated! October 20, 2004 Coach Andrea to speak on Empowering Yourself on behalf of Milford National Bank and Trust Milford National Bank believes in building relationships and increasing their value to the realtors they work with. Andrea Novakowski will provide her5-step program for gaining control of your life, Empowering Yourself to the realtors. October 28, 2004 Empowering Yourself at Keefe Tech Continuing Education Do you feel like you need to make a significant change in your business or personal life and would like some support to address these issues? Andrea will provide her 5-step program for gaining control of your life. This seminar is scheduled for Thursday, October 28th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Keefe Tech, Framingham, MA. To reserve your place, please call 508-935-0202. October 28, 2004 Pounce on a Project VII This is the 7th offering of Pounce on a Project. Don't "they" say that it takes 7 times to hear/see something before you pay attention? It's time! Join us in October to complete the project that will make the biggest difference in your work or life. Come to "Pounce on a Project VII." Here's what participants are saying: "I accomplished a big section of my newsletter re-design that had been stalled on my 'to do' list for many months. Having the support of the group helped me bypass my procrastination and tackle my project with energy." -- D.W., Certified Financial Planner, MA "Pounce on a Project had me tackling my project head on. Completing it felt so good! Once I started, the angst disappeared." --K.J., Environmental Professional, MA "I'm no longer putting off what I love to do!" -- K.N., Business Owner, TX "I had to get all of my marketing material organized and sent to my advisor. Where was I going to find the time? Pounce on a Project gave me 4 hours of uninterrupted time to easily complete my plan!" -- A.N., Business Owner, MA "Pounce on a Project enabled me to fulfill a long time goal of mine, while energizing me to undertake other projects that I had been putting off." -- L.W., Software Test Engineer, MA "The simple structure of commitment and accountability had me easily complete my project." -- C.S., Business Owner, England "I learned I can use this time to accomplish many small projects I've been putting off. Hooray!" -- A.P., Freelance Writer, MA Did you know that incompletions and clutter can drain your energy? As we begin the fall season, are there projects or spaces you need to "clean up" to feel successful? In preparation for our next get together, consider the following: ** What do I need to let go of? ** How can I simplify? ** What needs to be done to get better organized? ** What needs to be stored for future use? Join Andrea on Thursday, October 28th, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Eastern. We will join as a group by phone and declare what you want to accomplish: planning your pricing strategy for your new products, finishing your website, making those cold calls, organizing your office, simplifying your filing system, or cleaning under your bed. During the morning, the group will gather by phone a few times to check progress and get any support needed to finish with a bang. At noon, the group will celebrate their accomplishments. Who says projects have to be boring and tedious? Bring your lightness and fun and join us for the energization. To sign up or learn more, call or e-mail Andrea by noon on October 27th. Feel free to share this with friends and co-workers, the more the merrier. (Cost of the program is only the cost of long distance phone calls.)

	ABOUT ANDREA NOVAKOWSKI
This Coaching Tip of the Week is brought to you by Andrea Novakowski, Master Certified Coach who provides Business and Personal Coaching to Corporations, Businesses, and Individuals. Andrea is a professional coach who partners with people to set goals and create momentum to produce effective results in their business and/or personal lives. Andrea is available for individual coaching. If you are serious about reaching your goals and living with greater fulfillment and satisfaction, consider using a coach. To schedule a COMPLIMENTARY initial consultation, send an e-mail to Andrea at andrea@coachandrea.com.

	PASS IT ON
Please feel free to pass on the Coaching Tip of the Week to your friends and colleagues. To subscribe, click the "Subscribe" button below. You may also subscribe at http://coachandrea.com. We never send unsolicited e-mail. If you have received this message and you did not subscribe yourself or you wish to unsubscribe your e-mail address from the list, please click the link below. You may also unsubscribe at http://coachandrea.com. If you need to get in contact with us directly (if you have trouble subscribing/unsubscribing, or have questions about the list itself), send an e-mail to andrea@coachandrea.com. Copyright 2004. When you forward Andrea Novakowski's "Coaching Tip of the Week" to your friends and colleagues, please keep the copyright and contact information intact.

Quick Links...

Subscribe to Coaching Tip

Last Week's Coaching Tip More About Us